In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

-Proverbs 16:9

In late February, I began feeling that my time left in Tucson was short.

<In the Rodeo Festival>

Retreat in Louisville

  I meet Richard Wiliams, Lydia Kim, Bridgette Lewis, Seong Eun Choi, Jihye Chung and especially Soohwi Jo. We shared every thing that was fun, sad, difficult, and new living US this past 6 months. We are all living in same the country, the US, but we are serving in different places. It was worthwhile to hear about their experiences which were different from mine. And I was encouraged by them because they worked hard their placement.

 

< In front of presbyterian center.>

<From left: Soohwi, Jihye, Seong Eun, Lydia, Hanbyeol>

YAV retreat in Cascabel

With the Tucson YAV's, I spent time in Cascabel on a silent retreat where we camped by ourselves for 3 days. I took as little baggage as possible with me. We spent time without people and electronics an learned about simple living. At that time, I was pretty scared because I would alone. I asked myself 'Can I spend time by myself?', 'Can I sleep well in the dessert?' However, it got me thinking in many ways and I turned to my journal and the Bible instead of my phone and computer. I sang songs, went running, watched the sky, climbed the hill, wrote down my thoughts and daydreamed. Also I prayed about my future and found helpful scriptures.

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. The LORD works out everything for his own ends even the wicked for a day of disaster. Proverbs 16:3~4

<From left: Emily, Hanbyeol, Grace, Allie, James Bottom: Brandon> 

 <The dawning sky>

Photo Credit: April English

Service

I work in CHRPA (Community Home Repair Project of Arizona) which is a non-profit who do repairs in emergency situations for low income individuals and families.

 

I'd like to share my experiences.

 

2.11

Today, I worked with Josh. I was really worried what I should talk with him about during the drive to the clients house. God always gives me new challenges. But the truth is today will end. Josh talked a lot and it was still hard to listen to what he was saying but I could see the excitement on his face as he talked.

~

 

2.24

Yesterday, I went to sleep early. So it was easy to wake up in the morning. I had enough time for packing my lunch. When I washed my face, I heard the rain's sound. I thought it will be not easy to bike in the rain. When I was waiting for Allie outside, she ran out to me and said "Dan will pick us up~!" O~! Yeah

~

At the Client's house, she was a tricky Client. We repaired the whole house's water pipes. But she was still unhappy. She needed one more water pipe for watering the tree. I thought it was not big deal. So I said "You can use your garden hose". She said "That is hard to do". For me, one of the most memorable moments is Dustin's behavior. He didn't say anything like "we are going to dig in the ground and make new pipe" and we didn't make a promise like that. Just he said " I know that is really important to you"

When we was driving to the office, we talked about Jesus. If we were Jesus, we would dig and put pipe? Or If she were Jesus, she should use the hose because we already fixed the whole pipes. I want to be taking after jesus. I want to be jesus. But so hard,,,,

¡Dios te bendiga!

(God bless you)

How are you? I was missing Korea so much during this month. I used to practice the worship and play for the Christmas at my home church. I missed that time.

And I bought a new journal. It begins my 22 year old story.

 

 

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

-Isaliah 41:10

 

 

Christmas in Alabama(Heart of dixie)

     I thought, "What should I do on Christmas in Tucson?" as everyone goes back to their home. Thankfully, however, Allie's family invited me to Dothan, Alabama. It was such a great time for me. I could see their Christmas culture and experience Southern food, the accents, and hospitality. Allie's grandmother gave me a present of pajamas.

 

 

 

<With Allie's family>

 

Voluntary service

We had a workshop in CHRPA(Community Home Repair Project of Arizona). We should put ourself in our client's shoes. This time was I could feel more deeply that they are in need of help.

 

I want to share my journal. (12. 22. 2015)

 

I worked with Abi. She also is a volunteer from JVC. Both of us don't have much experience about repairing things; I have thrills when I work with her. The first job was changing a furnace's thermostat. It didn't work after repairing. We were embarrassed. But we found the small screw was bad. So we put up a new one again. It was so small and hard to do. The client looked so happy. She said, "It was so cold every Christmas, but I can spend a warm Christmas this year." I hope that her furnace works well every winter. The next house has big dogs. One of the biggest ran to me and raised up her hands to my shoulder. At that moment, I was scared, but I was not averse to hang out with her. I felt really great about helping the people.

 

<It was raining>

 

<Working on the roof>

 

My loving house mate

After Christmas, it had been a long time since I had seen them. So I felt like starting from the beginning. We shared stories about playing with family, spending hard times and so on. I realized it is a strong challenge to live in a different place and new community without parents. I learned a lot of important things about how to make and keep a good community from my house mate.

 

 

<From left: Brandon's daughter Lucy, Grace, James, Hanbyeol, Allie, Emily and Brandon in Bear Canyon>

 

  Through YAV year, God challenges me in my weaknesses. I realize I can do anything with God.

How are you feeling?

 

 

I have experienced various events in November: Halloween, Delegation with the Denver site, Day of the Dead and Thanks giving day.

<Day of the Dead with Soohwi Jo>

 

Delegation

I had a time of learning on the border between the U.S. and Mexico. I was so happy, especially since I could spend time with Soohwi. For a while I could speak Korean and have very meaningful conversations. I felt like God consoled me during my hard times.

During the delegation, the most impressive time for me was spending time with the immigrants and the border patrol. The immigrants cross the border to go to the U.S. to protect their family. On the other hand, border patrol carry the guns to protect their family.

I talked a lot with James (He is working with Frontera de Cristo). He said " Americans also are migrants." That answer made me think about a lot of things.

This border reminded me of the border between South Korea and North Korea.

 

< We prayed for migrants who died while crossing the border.>

 

Voluntary service

The weather begins to cool a little. So We turn off the Cooler, turn on the Furnace, and make water pipes. When I am working, it is still hard to use tool names. But I can do according to the situation.

<Making water pipes>

 

I want to share my journal. (11.17.2014)

 

My co-worker and I took a really long drive. It made me hard to spend time in the car. But I tried to talk with him to be comfortable. The client has six dogs. They didn't bite me and just smell me. Phew~! We repaired the water heater. It was so heavy, so she helped us. When I was getting tired, one of the kids came to me and gave a paper. I was extremely impressed by her. I don't know why. I was glad to work for them. Today, I succeed.

 

 

My precious treasure is my family.

The other Tucson YAVs are my new family in the U.S. Emily works with Refugees, Grace works in Border links and James works in Mexico. I thought I only spend a hard time in different culture and language. They also have to speak Spanish and build relationships.

During a week, my father was sick. When we had a Community Day, Allie said about my father, we took by the hand and pray for my father. I was so thankful for that time.

 

 

<We picked the corn by hand. From left Emily, Grace, Hanbyeol and James>

I feel God with me whenever I have a hard time. When my father was sick, I thought I have to go back. But now, he recover. And when I went to Mexico, I couldn't understand any things. But I spent really good time with Soohwi.

If I look uncomfortable, my new family always ask me. "How are you feeling?"

 

I also want to ask you "How are you feeling?"

 

The second letter (October)

Gracias

 

These days, I am getting used to the new surroundings. Tucson is one of the best place in my life. It is surrounded by mountains and has so beautiful sky.  

I climbed Tumamoc on the morning.

(There are many cactus.)

 

 

Volunteer work

Every morning, I had a high color after biking for an hour. Nowdays I covered the distance in 40 minutes!!!!

I am working for CHRPA(Community Home Repair Project of Arizona). I appreciate Allie also work in the same place. We talk a lot during biking and spend a lot of time. Sometimes, She explain Alabama and America history for me.(She is from Alabama)

 

with Allie in the Living room

I fix the cooler, toilet, electricity, roof, steps and water pipe in the Trailer park. (May poor live in there) The bulk of them live alone and don't have enough money to repair their homes. I feel like they need someone to talk with. While staying in USA, I have realized that it is not important to speak the same language. The most important thing is an eye contact, smile and salute by nodding. After working, the Client was so grateful that she was thanking me with every breath. My heart was filled with pride at that time.

<Fix the roof>

 

 

   I serve at CHRPA with a staff and volunteers who are retired military, lawyers, business men and women and others. As we drive to our work sites, I can hear their life stories. I am impressed because their spare time and money is used to help others.

<With Hugh Ward>

New family

Allie, Emily, Grace, James, and April(She joins from other volunteer program, but lives together with us.) they are my new family. I thought it was more important to study English on the table instead of hanging out with them. But I found, while I am hanging out with them and learning their culture, I learn so much more. And also I knew I can not understand every thing and have a different culture. I am getting to feel comfortable and know their culture.

I also speak my culture about South Korea's history, North Korea, relationship with China and Japan, Korean War and so on. I appreciate they acknowledge about my different opinion and life story. If I don't understand, they use Google translation even though it is not always correct. This warms my heart.

 

<April made this schedule>

Let me introduce the story about the CHRPA(Community Home Repair Project of Arizona) is my working place.

 

On my first day, I worked with Dustin and we were working on the cooler on the roof. I did not know much about roofs because I didn't have a lot of experience. I tripped and fell through the roof. I was so embarrassed and the client was so Angry. I could not understand what she was yelling at me, because she had a heavy accent and I was new to the English language. The damaged roof was really hard to fix, so we never fixed it. So everytime I go on a roof, I am reminded of my mistake. Which makes me uncomfortable on roofs.
                                                                             9/3/2014

 

It is pretty good story to me. I love the CHRPA.

<8.17~9.5>

Buenos días! (Good morning)

 

It means Good morning in spanish. After orientation for a week in New York, I came to Tucson.

It was a really good week in Stony Point for orientation, because I had rich experiences learning about my friends-who have different cultures than I do-opinion. The first time, I had to be careful of my behavior, because I have a different culture. But my new friends were also concerned about this place and people. When I was with a small group, I was afraid of speaking my thoughts. But step by step, I could speak with confidence.

A small group

 

Seong Eun Choi, Jihye Chung, Soohwi Jo and I wore a Hanbok, Korean traditional clothes, and sang a song in korean.

 

 

Arrived Tucson, we did orientation and spent time to get to know each other for a week. How they lived, relationship with parents, and how they are doing and what are expectations in Tucson. I want to know about who are they, and speak about me, however it is difficult to speak the English language. During meeting, I prayed to God I can not do everything without God but I can do anything with God. Sometime I don't want to speak anything and listen, nevertheless, Grace, Emily, Allie, James, April and Brandon are always complimenting me, would allow me to finish my sentence. What they says is extremely heartening. I am happy with them.

Tucson volunteers

 

For the first time, I went to CHRPA(Community Home Repair Projects of Arizona) by bike. (Tucson volunteers always have to ride by bike. Pray for our safety.) We visited houses with problems, and fixed cooler, electricity, water pipe, and so on.

I visited Leo's house. He made and gave me a hat.

 

I learned how to sweat water pipes.

Prayer of Thanks

 Dear Father in heaven, we thank You for the food we eat. We thank You for the friends we meet. We thank You for Your loving care. We thank You for Your faithful providence which we have enjoyed and for Your gracious provision of fellowship with one another and with You. Teach us to receive Your gifts with thanksgiving, that with grateful hearts we may enjoy the gifts that have come from You.

 사랑의 하나님 아버지, 일용할 양식을 주시고, 만날 수 있는 친구를 주시고, 사랑으로 보살펴 주시니 감사합니다. 우리가 누리는 당신의 신실하신 섭리에 감사드립니다. 우리가 서로서로 그리고 당신과 함께 은혜로운 교제를 하게 하셔서 감사합니다. 당신이 주신 선물을 감사함으로 받도록 가르쳐 주셔서 그 선물들을 감사함으로 즐길 수 있게 하소서.

From, English Prayer Handbook